Turkey With All the Trimmings

Nine straight days of football sounds like a cornucopia to me.

In Poch we trust? (Getty Images)

Not much to write about this week though.  I didn't see the first leg of the US - Jamaica CONCACAF Nations League quarter; looks like the highlight might have been Matt Turner's PK save in a 1-0 US win.  I did watch the second leg, a 4-2 US victory that didn't seem that close.  That may have been because I was thinking about the aggregate score and at one point early in the second half it was 4-0.  This was the most reliably dangerous I can remember the US being in a while.  Pulisic's opening goal is this week's YouTubeableMoment.  Sure, there wasn't much action this week but it could have been the moment on any packed week.  The cross from McKennie was perfectly weighted and the finish was sublime.  The US will face Panama in one semi while Canada and Mexico will square off the in the other on March 20th.

Conversation That Could Have Taken Place But Didn't

Dennis: Some Jamaican players missed the second leg because they had their credit cards stolen?

Steve: No, they couldn't travel with the team because they lost their visas

Our Cup Runneth Over

There's an EPL match week spread over three days this weekend followed by three days of European competition and the EPL picks up on Friday for three more days.

We're back to those 7:30 Saturday matches but at least Leicester - Chelsea will be on USA so you can DVR it - and possibly fast forward through as it doesn't look like a close one.   The five choices at 10 am are a mixed bag.  We will be going with Aston Villa - Crystal Palace, though we are expecting (hoping?) it will be an easy day for the Villans.  The best choice for the neutral is probably Bournemouth hosting Brighton; the Cherries are near the bottom of a huge mid-table but home field advantage should make this an interesting contest.  Certainly better than, say, Arsenal hosting Nottingham Forest; though they are level on points, the Gunners are big favorites here (68/14/19 at Opta). A little surprised to see Everton a slight favorite over Brentford, suggesting that this one might be decent too.  Your last choice is Fulham - Wolves. 

The NBC feature match is one that likely won't bring Michael B out of retirement.  Spurs have to face Man City at the Etihad, never an easy task.  Add in that City have lost four straight and it seems even more daunting.  Opta thinks so too with the percentages at 60/20/20.

Sunday has just two fixtures and neither look all that great.  Liverpool face Southampton on the coast at 9 am while Ipswich host Man United at 11:30.  Both are on USA.

Wait, what about Newcastle?  They are Monday at 3 pm, facing West Ham at Saint James' Park.  I have mildly positive expectations for this one.  The Hammers lost to Forest 0-3 and a week later Newcastle beat them 3-1; under the transitive property of arithmetic, that should mean a 6-1 Magpie win.  Yeah, I'll probalby be disappointed.

Champions League Matchday 5 of 8 plays out over Tuesday and Wednesday.  Man City (home to Feyenoord) and Arsenal (away to Sporting) play Tuesday at 3 pm.  You can stuff your turkey to Aston Villa - Juventus or Liverpool - Real Madrid at 3 pm on Wednesday.

But wait, there's more.  On Turkey Day we have Chelsea going to Heidenheim in Europa Conference League action at 12:45.  Then you can do Tottenham - Roma or Man United - Boba Fett Bodo/Glint at 3 pm, safe in the knowledge that either will be over before it's time for dinner.  Beats watching the Cowboys for sure.

I guess we should point out that the MLS conference semis are Saturday and Sunday.  I note that all are only available on MLS Season Pass, with the exception of LA - Minnesota at 6 pm on Sunday.  The other fixtures are NYC - Red Bull at 5:30 on Saturday, LAFC - Seattle at 10:30 on Saturday and Orlando - Atlanta at 3:30 on Sunday.  I guess there's a slight chance I'll see the two "late" matches if my "give-a-shit" meter hits a certain threshold.